Advertisement
Published: July 15th 2010
Edit Blog Post
6:10 ROME CIAMPINO GATE CLOSED We sprinted through the doors to security and flung ourselves in the front of the line. Despite the protests of the people behind us, we pushed our way up to the desk. The lady stamped our boarding passes and we raced off across the room to the line for security. For being in England, many people didn't speak English and we sign languaged our way to the front of the security line with arm flaps and multiple points to our watches. Within 30 seconds we were through and racing to Gate 54. With 59 gates total, we dodged people carrying luggage and babies for at least 10 minutes. Barely breathing we made it to the final desk and were literally one of the last three people on the plane. Even with this being my most phenomenal weekend in Europe, that was by far my most stressful moment of the summer.
Back in Paris, I missed my flight, but there was nothing I could do since I was checking luggage. This time, we knew we had a chance and it took every bit of energy we could muster to make it there in time.
I'm so grateful that we did.
On Monday, we decided to go to Pineapple Dance Studios, famous from its television series in the heart of London. We got into a beginning Jazz class and danced to a rather addicting J-Lo song. After, we got a picture with our instructor and chatted, we decided to meet up later so we could get one of his t-shirts from his personal clothing line. AJKDance. Go check it out.
High off endorphins from dancing, we wandered over to Oxford St picking up some fabulous sunglasses on the way there. The next 6 hours was spent filtering in and out of the many stores on Oxford St before grabbing food to head back to the studio. We got back and got our shirts (which are awesome, I must say) and went to the Salsa class. I was surprised to find that it was Cuban style of salsa, one I'm not familiar with. They pushed me to the more experienced side of the class and I picked it up quickly. It was different but easy to pick up and I had a great time.
We met up with Alex (the instructor of the
first class) and went to apparently the "best fish and chips" in London. I can't say I don't agree with that statement. It was nice getting to know someone within the design/film/fashion industry and the three of us had a good chat until it was time for us to go attempt to catch the tube. A nice networking experience for sure.
Once we got back and gathered our stuff and got back on the bus, the tube had stopped running for the night so we took the night bus up to Liverpool St to catch the train to Stansted. We had been told that the train ran all night but when we arrived at the station, it was the buses that ran, not the train. The first train of the day didn't leave until 4:40am. So, at 1 in the morning, we weren't allowed in the station so we camped out in the McDonalds with a bunch of other travelers. With the train arriving at 5:39am and the gate closing at 5:40am, we knew we'd be in a rush. Many other people's flights left at the same time ours did and they didn't seem overly concerned about it so
Pineapple Dance Studio
We met some of the people who work at Pineapple Dance studios in London. =] we decided it would be okay. Boy were we wrong.
Now, we're back in Rome and I whole heartedly wish that I was back in London.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.276s; Tpl: 0.018s; cc: 12; qc: 57; dbt: 0.0541s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb